After March’s geese, swans, and ducks migrate through, the kinglets, creepers, swallows, sparrows, and some warblers follow suit in April. Along with the newly budding trees and blooming flowers, the rains continue from March, making the fields and mudflats prime habitat for shorebirds and ducks.

Note: Due to more Ebird data, some of the species sightings date back further than the ones of March, so not every species is an annual visitor.

Lake Park

Whether it’s a calling Wood Thrush, a twenty warbler species day, or a flyover Neotropic Cormorant, Lake Park can always have something amazing.

Key species: Neotropic Cormorant, Yellow-throated Warbler, Cerulean Warbler, Louisiana Waterthrush (and all other normally occurring warblers by April), Franklin’s Gull, Summer Tanager, Vermilion Flycatcher, Harris’s Sparrow, Lark Sparrow, Northern Mockingbird.

Warnimont County Park/ Sheridan Park

Warnimont has an incredible mix of habitat, from savanna and brush, wooded trails and ravines, to the bluffs along Lake Michigan, making it an excellent stop for migrants, especially warblers. A Bank Swallow colony also arrives in mid to late April every year.

Key species: Bank Swallow, Vesper Sparrow, Sedge Wren, Broad-winged Hawk, Blue-winged Warbler (and all other normally occurring warblers by April)

Grant Park

The Grant feeders are great for returning sparrows, thrashers, thrushes, and Pine Warblers. Will-o-Way has good warbler habitat, and the beach can be a good spot to see a flock of terns passing through, as well as some shorebirds.

Key species: Red-headed Woodpecker, White-eyed Vireo, Blue-winged Warbler, Louisiana Waterthrush, Purple Finch, Common Redpoll, Willet.

Lakeshore State Park

In the spring seasons of 2017-2019, the beach had either Avocets, Marbled Godwits, or both on a day or two (in 2020 the beaches were closed, so there isn’t enough data to know if they were there). The rain garden is also a good spot to check for Sora hiding among the reeds.

Key species: Willet, American Avocet, Marbled Godwit, Black-bellied Plover, American Pipit, Eared Grebe.

Wehr Nature Center

Wehr has two of the best spots for warblers in the county, those being the warbler bridge and the “log jam” area by the creek. With some of the closest views you’ll ever get to warblers, it feels unreal.

Key species: Worm-eating Warbler, Louisiana Waterthrush (and all other normally occurring warblers by April), Broad-winged Hawk, Red-headed Woodpecker, Summer Tanager, Carolina Wren, Northern Mockingbird.

Oak Creek Parkway #8/ Pennsylvania Avenue

Once it rains, the fluddles at Pennsylvania are amazing for shorebirds, as well as hundreds of Bonaparte’s Gulls late in the month. Just remember to bring a scope, because they can be quite far out and impossible to ID with bins.

Key species: Sora, American Bittern, Bonaparte’s Gull, Dunlin, Semipalmated Plover, Pectoral Sandpiper, Brewer’s Blackbird.

Bradford Beach/ Linnwood Water Treatment Plant

Bradford is a good place to check for the late duck, loon, and grebe rarities, and the beach can get early shorebirds some years. Linnwood has what is known as Milwaukee’s “Magic Hedge”, which along with being great for warblers, gets a surprise rarity every year.

Key species: Grasshopper Sparrow, Prairie Warbler, American White Pelican, Canvasback, Gadwall, American Wigeon, Long-tailed Duck, Red-throated Loon, Tundra Swan, Western Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, Harlequin Duck, American Golden-Plover, Upland Sandpiper, Yellow-headed Blackbird.

Milwaukee County Grounds

Throughout April, the “kiddick” call of the Virginia Rail, and the whinny of the Sora can be heard coming from the detention basin. There is also excellent habitat for over-summering meadowlarks and sparrows, which sometimes turns up a rarity.

Key species: Virginia Rail, Sora, American Woodcock, Wilson’s Snipe, Field Sparrow, Northern Shrike, Northern Harrier, Short-eared Owl.